Label-affixer.



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LABEL AFFIMGL Asme/mom man :uw n2. ma.

Patented Apr. 29;'1919.

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J. J. DONQVANA LABEL AFFIXER.

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V.. E N R m A J. DONOVAN.

l LANL mmm. APPLICATDOW FILED ULV 12, )918.

Patented Apr. 29A HSN.

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INVENTOR JfJ @0M/@wam BY Wg@ ATTORNEY j primero saines enr creme. l

.reruns ro. percevant, or encontra, new voran. nennt-ernment.

specification of Letters Patent. l Patent-,c3431 Alon". 299 ll9lQ).

.application tiled July 12, 181e. aerial No. 244,629.

' label to uneven surfaces or over the joints between the severalsections of cigarette and tobacco boxes and the like. While my inventionis generally applicable to box making and labeling machines,

the joint ot the box while the adhesive on it is especially adapted foruse in connection with those types oi machines wherein means areemployed 'for gumming the labels and initially applying the same to theboxes9 though l would have it expressly understod that l in no wise,limit :myself to such specific application or embodiment of myinvention. which l have selected as a basis for illustrating anddescribing my invention, merely for the purpose of rendering a clear andcomprehensible undelstanding of the scope and novel `features thereof..

tv/'ly invention broadly comprehends the provision or arrangement ofelastic means for direct impingement with the box and against thepreviously gummed and initially applied label, strip of material orotherwise, and a construction of such meansV which. will act toimmediately receive the boxes as they are fed from a labeling machine.,box making machine or the like or both when used in conjunction witheach other, as long as Ways are provided for, whereby the labels of theboxes when discharged from such type of machine will be rather moist;said elastic means being universally yieldable and designed so that whenengaged with the box or work to be operated upon, its elasticity will betaxed and the same made to adapt itself to any irregularities,inconsistencies of construction or uneven surfaces of the box such asthose which are commonly apparent at the joints between the bodyportions of the boxes and the mating cover sections thereof and thusincident to the taxing of the elasticity of said means to effect a.linal and perfect application of the labels to the boxes over thementioned joints and various inconsistencies in the surfaces thereof.

This above described arrangement and functioning becomes necessary wherethe label constitutes the hinge for the cover section ot the box as lhave found thatV many, if not most ot the troubles to which suchmachines are subjected arise through titl) the fact that heretofore, nomeans are provided to my knowledge, which will automatically conform tothe irregularities in the surface ont the box and permit of a fullapplication of the label or hinge strip over the label is in a moiststate and at the same time exert a constant pressure against the labelfor an appreciable length oi" time.

l shall now proceed to describe one einu bodiment of the invention withreference to the accompanying drawings, which show a specilicapplication thereof, and then proceed to point out with moreparticularity, the essential elements of novelty in the annexed claims.

Figure l is a view in side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 oi Fig. l.

Fig. e is a section taken on the line l--Ll of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 isa transverse section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. l. l l

Fig. 6 is a section taken 'through a portion of the machine at theintake end thereof illustrating the box feeding mechanism. Fig. 7 is ahorizontal section showing in detail the application of elastic andexpansible conveying and pressing belt.

Fig. 8 is a section taken through portions of two belts showing aslightly modilied form thereof.

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing a further modification of theinvention. 4

Fig. 10 is a section through a portion of one of the belts showing itsoperative application to the box to press the label uniformly in contacttherewith over the joint thereof so that the label will constitute ahinge for the cover section of the box.

titl

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the types of boxes intended tobe operated upon by the mechanism. V

Fig. 12 is a perspective viewof the hinger strip label.

In carr in the invention into ractice, use is ma e o a conveyer which isesigned to constitute a grasping and pressing means for the boxes andmeans for arranging the boxes in a continuous row formation. Thismechanism consists of an elastic and expansible runway 15, Whichisdefined by endless conveyer belts 16 and 17. These belts are arrangedside by side in the same general horizontal line with each other 'andeach consists of inner and outer plies of materials 18 and 19 which areseparated from each other relatively by an intervening space 20. In thespace 1f, arranged an elastic or expansible core or substance 21 such asspongerubber so that the working surfaces of the belts are universallypliable and elastic.A

Any suitable cushioning agent can, however, be employed in lieu ofsponge-rubber without involving departure from my claims. Thearrangement is also such that the runway 15 between the belts is elasticor expansible so that when boxes are fed between the belts theelasticity of the latter will be taxed to thereby cause the same to beadvanced with pressure against the sides of the box. The arrangement isas though the box to be operated upon was held between the thumb andindex finger of the hand and pressure of the fingers exerted against thesides of the box to cause that intimacy of contact between the box andthe label or hinge strip that is necessary to effect a uniform contactof the label and permit the latter to adapted itself to all present orexisting inequalities in the surface of the box.

These belts are superposed with respect to a supporting frame 22 and asillustrated, such frame includes parallel side ba rs 23--23 and suitableend members 24 and 25. At the outlet or discharge end 26 of the runway15, the supporting rolls 27 of the belts 16 and 17, are respectivelymounted upon verticalA shafts 28 and 29 having their ends mounted inbearings 30 of brackets 31. These brackets are provided with cylindricalportions 32 which are arranged to slide upon rods 33 which are supportedin the bracket 25. Set screws or similar retaining devices 34 on theportions 32 are adapted to engage with the mentioned rods 33 so as tohold the rollers 27-27 fixedly spaced apart when the desired adjustmentof the runway 15 has been obtained.

At the intake end 35 of the runway, the rollers 36-36 are respectivelymounted upon shafts 37 and 38. These shafts are arranged in bearings 39upon brackets 40-40. These brackets are provided with cylindricalportions 41 which are free to slide on transverse rods 42. lSet screwsor equivalent fastenings 43 on said portions 41 are adapted to hold thebrackets 40-40 in relatively fixed positions. Each of the shafts 37 and38 is provided with a bevel gear 44 which are arranged in meshingengagement with bevel gears 45 on a power transmitting shaft 46. rlhegears 45 are adapted to slide upon the shaft 46 when it is desired tochange the adjustment of the belts 16 and 17. Ordinarily, they are heldfixed upon the shaft by set screws 47.

The shaft 46 is provided with a ratchet wheel 48 which co-acts with arocking dog 49 which is arranged to be controlled by a link 50, thelatter having connection with a crank arm'51 on the shaft 52 of a boxfeeding mechanism 53. Power is adapted to be transmitted to the shaft 52by means of a reciprocating bar 54 which may be connected in anysuitable Well known manner with a box making machine or otherwise.

The box feeding mechanism 53 at the inlet end 35 ofthe runway 15comprises the mentioned shaft 52 which is provided with a plurality oflifting fingers 55 which are adapted to be rocked or oscillated when theshaft 52 is in motion. rlhese fingers work between box guides 56 whichextend from fixed 'bracket plates 57. The machine is adapted to bearranged with its intake end in receiving proximity with the dischargeend of a boxv making machine so that the boxes as they are dischargedsingly from such machine will be deposited upon the 'fingers 55. 1n Viewthereof 'it is manifest that when the shaft 52 is rocked in onedirection, the boxes are adapted to be sucsively introduced to therunway 15 for direct impingement against the inner leads of the matingbelts 16 and 17.

Supported by the frame 22 are horizontally disposed bars 58 on wh'ichare mounted sliding frames 59 which support tensioning rolls 60. rilheseframes are adapted to be moved sidewise relatively of the inner leads ofthe belts 16 and 17 so that the rolls 60 can be pressed against saidleads of the belts and thereby form a relatively fixed backing for saidvleads in order that the elasticity of the runway will be taxed on theintroduction of the boxes thereto. r1`he frames 59 are provided withbrackets 61 having elongated slots 62 therein. The bars 58 are providedwith set screws 63 which pass through the slots 61 'and which aretherefore arranged to hold said brackets in fixed positions. Thebrackets 40-40 are provided with suitable extensions 64 in whichtensioning rolls 65 are mounted. These rolls are arranged in the samegeneral line with the rolls 60 and are also adapted to bear against theinner leads of the belts 16 and 17.

The machine herein described is intended to operate upon 'boxes of thecharacter shown neoaiaa at 66 in Figs. 1 0 and 11 wherein use is made ofa cover section 67 and a body section 66.

gummed and initially applied to the box before the latter is introducedto the runway 15 and subjected to the action of the belts 16 and 17.After the label is applied and the I x conducted to the runway, while inan upright position, the portion 71 of the la'bel or hinge strip isbrought to bear against the next adjacent belt and incident to theelastic or expansib-le action thereof, it will, be observed on referenceto Fig. 10, that the belt will automatically accommodate itself tovthose irre ularities or inconsistencies in the surface o the box andthereby cause-said portion 71 to be uniformly brought into close contactwith the companion sections of the box. To m knowledge, this method orarrangement ofy providing means which is automatically elastic anduniversally flexible is new in the art. In practice, I find that bestresults are obtained by initially adjusting the runway so that in widththe same is slightly less than the width of the box to be operated uponin that when the box is in position between the inner leads of therespective belts 16 and 17, the elasticity of said leads will `beimmediately taxed. By backing the inner leads by the rollers 60,sufficient pressure of the leads can be applied against the box tosatisfactorily advance the same into close contact with all irregularsurfaces.

In the form of runway shown in Fig. 9, provide belts 7 0 and 71,', theformer being formed of a single ly of material and the latlter beingpreferably of the same desi as the one previously described herein. rtmay be preferred to provide the belt 71 with spaced cleats 72 which aredesigned to engage against the body portions 73 of those forms of boxesin which the cover sections 7 4f are extended beyond said body portions.

tIn the form shown in' Fig. 8, the belts 75-7 5 are identical inconstruction with the preferred embodiment of the invention except thateach is provided with spaced cleats 76.

What is claimed as new is 1. Mechanism for finishing the application ofpreviouslypasted and initially applied hinge strips to boxes comprising,means for grasping the box between a plurality of its sides and forexerting lateral pressure thereagainst to effect a final impingement ofa previously gummed strip lpansible runway therebetween adapted to .theboxesv are in intimate confinement with said members, sald members eachincluding means embodyer consisting of one of said. lies degree ofelasticity from thereagainst, said grasping ing a lateral elastic memplies of materials wherein 1s of a'diferent the other.

2. Mechanism for finishing the a plication of previously pasted andinitiaily applied hinge strips to boxes com rising, elasticlmembers'spaced apart to define an exreceive the boxes therein, and meansfor setting said members in motion to cause the boxes to be conveyedfrom end to end of the mechanism to the other end thereof while aplurality of plies of rubbers aced apart and provided with an intermeiate pliable portion having a different degree of elasticity from saidplies.

3. Mechanism for finishing the application of previously pasted andinitially applied hinge strips to boxes comprising, relatively elasticmembers arranged side by side to define an intervening spacetherebetween for the reception of the boxes so that an entrance of theboxes between the members will tax the elasticity of the same, means forcausing the boxes to be fed from end to end of said members while incontact therewith, said members embodying belts each having anintermediate portion possessing a dierent degree of elasticity from theouter faces of the belts.

4. Mechanism for finishingthe application of previously pasted andinitially applied hinge strips to boxes comprising, relatively elasticmembers arranged side by side to define an intervening spacetherebetween for the reception of the boxes so that an entrance of theboxes between the members will tax the elasticity of the same, means forcausing the boxes to be fed from end to end of said members while incontinuous contact therewith, said members each having a plurality ofportions respectively possessin different degrees of elasticity.

5,. echanism for finishing the applica- `tion of previously pasted andinitially applied hinge strips to boxes comprising, movable memberseach'possessing varying degrees of elasticity spaced apart to define arunwayy therebetween for the reception of the boxes, means forsimultaneously moving both members at the same rate of speed, and 12omeans for successively introducing the boxes movable elastic membersarranged side by side to define an intervening space therebetween for.the reception of t e boxes so that an 1s@ entrance of the boxes in saidspace will tax the elasticity of the members and cause the same to exertlateral pressure thereagainst, said members each possessing varyingdegrecs of elasticity, means for successively feeding the boxes to saidspace, and means for operating the members to move the boxes from oneend of the space to the other end thereof.

7. Mechanism for finishing the application of previously pasted andinitially applied hinge strips to boxes comprising, elastic mechanismfor grasping the boxes in line with the joints between the body portionsof the boxes and the cover sections, said mechanism having a boxreceiving end and a discharge end, said mechanism serving tocontinuously exert pressure against the boxes from the time of itsreceipt of the box to the time of a discharge of the box from saidmechanism, and embodying co-acting members each possessing varyingdegrees of elasticity.

8. Amachine of the class described7 mechanism having inlet and dischargeends, and means for conveying boxes from one of such ends to the otherand for exerting a continuous lateral pressure thereagainst during theperiod of progression of the boxes, said conveying means possessingvarying degrees of elasticity, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. A. machine of the class described comprising, members constitutingI alaterally ioaiea expansible runway, means for setting said members inbox conveying motion, and means for adjusting said members relatively tovary the width of the runway, said members each comprising an elasticcore and a yieldable enveloping means therefor.

lIl O. A machine of the class described comprising members constitutinga runway, and means for imparting motionto said members, said memberseach comprising an elastic core and a yieldable enveloping means forsaid core.

11. A machine of the class described comprising members constituting arunway, and means for imparting motion to said members, said memberseach comprising an elastic core and a yieldable enveloping means lforsaid core.

12. A. machine of the class described comprising members constituting arunway, and means for causing the articles to be moved from one e'nd ofsaid runway to the other end thereof while in contact with said members,'one of said members comprising an elastic core and a yieldableenveloping means for said core.

13. A machine of the class described comprising members constituting arunway, one of said members being in the form of an endless travelingbelt consisting of an inner yieldable core and an outer envelopingcovering therefor of yieldable material.'

In testimony whereof l aix my si ature.

JAMES d. DONO AN.,

